Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon believes Callum McGregor is one of the most underrated players within the Hoops dressing room but expects that his goal that helped deliver a back-to-back treble will give him the recognition that he deserves.

McGregor opened the scoring against Motherwell on Saturday afternoon after just 11 minutes and in truth the minute it hit the back of the net there was little doubt that the treble was on its way.

It was the latest of a series of goals this season from the Scotland midfielder when the stakes have been high and Gordon is appreciative of just what the academy graduate brings to the Parkhead midfield.

Read more: Martin O'Neill insists Brendan Rodgers can follow up double treble with European success

“I don’t think Callum gets anywhere near the credit he deserves,” said Gordon. “I think he is one of those players that people take a little bit for granted and that has been the case for a while now – but not in our dressing room. He is a massive part of this team and he has really added another dimension to us in the middle of the park.

“He has scored a fabulous amount of goals and big goals too, this season. He really adds to our threat going forward and I thought he showed great technique on Saturday – it really is a tremendous goal. There aren’t too many goalkeepers who would have been saving that one, that’s for sure.

“But that is what he brings. He has fabulous natural ability but he works hard and I think he has just gone up to another level this season.”

Read more: Marriage of Brendan Rodgers and Celtic puts all others in the shade​

Gordon, meanwhile, has admitted that he had no qualms about his own readiness to play at Hampden after a three-week absence, but he did fear that Brendan Rodgers might have given the gloves to Scott Bain.

A knee injury kept Gordon out between the end of January and the beginning of April and then a re-occurrence of the problem put him back in the treatment room. Having not featured in the first-team since the 5-0- win over Rangers at Celtic Park at the end of April, the Scotland internationalist was wary of taking his place in the cup final team for granted.

“I knew that I would be ok physically for the game but my only doubt came with whether the manager would put me in after three weeks without playing,” he said. “Within myself I felt that I was ready for that – and another clean sheet would suggest that I was right!”

One of the few moments to trouble Gordon came in the latter stages of the game when a Gael Bigirimana free-kick rebounded off the crossbar.

“I always felt it was a little bit high,” shrugged the keeper. “It hit the top of the crossbar and although that might look close to everybody else, to us keepers I think there is always a feeling that you’re pretty safe. I knew I wasn’t in any danger.”

Read more: Celtic captain Scott Brown: This group of players have secured their place in history​

Gordon is well aware that the bar will remain high for Celtic once they return next month to begin preparations for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.

For now though he wants the chance to savour the fact he has written himself into the history books before concentrating on whatever challenges await again next term.

“It will take a bit of time for it to sink in,” he said. “It is an incredible feat.

“I think we need to have a few weeks now to enjoy and reflect on it. The older I get the more I really need the break. But we’ll go away and get the chance of a few weeks to take a breather and then get ready to go again. Knowing the manager, he’ll want us to raise the bar again and it is up to us to go and see if we can do that. But for now it is a chance to enjoy it. Two trebles back to back is pretty incredible.

Read more: Chris Jack: Brendan Rodgers was denied his own Treble but Celtic boss is Manager of the Year​

“I think this year was hard. Everyone has tried to improve their squads and whether we play Aberdeen, Hearts or Hibs, everyone is looking to beat us. They want to get better and kick on and if we want to stay ahead then we have to do the same.

“That will be something to think about when we come back for pre-season.

“We have four weeks but it is enough to really get a break. The seasons are getting closer and closer together so it is good to just get ready to take a breather and then get set to go again.”